November 7, 2005

Vietnam reports new bird flu outbreaks

Local authorities have confirmed three new bird flu outbreaks in Vietnam's Bac Giang province, where a 24-year-old pregnant woman was also hospitalised with suspected bird flu.

Nearly 6,000 birds have died in three local communities recently, and all samples taken from the birds tested positive for the virus, according to a local official.

The hospitalised woman's samples were sent to the National Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology for testing, and results were expected soon, the official said.

Meanwhile, a 35-year-old man in Hanoi died recently, after showing bird flu-like symptoms. Nguyen Tran Hien, director of the National Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology, said more tests were needed before a final conclusion could be made that he died of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu.